Runaway

Slowly, she removed the Derby and sat stroking it. She let her fingers run lovingly around the small, felt brim, waiting for the familiar warmth of securtiy to flow upward as it usually did. Touching the hat was like rubbing a magic lantern. She could always bring Mike before her. His voice, his touch,his face, the dozens of sweet unforgettable memories they has shared would be there to choose from. Only now, for some reason. Mike seemed so long ago and far away, like someone she had read about. She shook her head hard. Mike loved her, and she loved him. She must hold on to that. Nobody else cared...not her horrible stepfather...not her wishy-washy mother...